Bad Effects of Dyeing Silk Fabric

Silk is not made entirely of plant proteins, as cotton is, but it's also not entirely made of animal proteins, as wool is. Because of that quality, silk can be dyed in either hot water, like wool, or warm water, like cotton. Either method carries risks.

Acid Dyes

Acid dyes require immersion in hot water and an acidic environment (low pH). For even dyeing of solid colors, the fabric must be steadily agitated for a period of 20 to 30 minutes, which can damage delicate fabrics.

Fiber Reactive Dyes

Fiber reactive dyes set on silk in warm water and require a basic environment (high pH) to set, which may degrade the fabric. As with acid dyes, achieving a smooth color requires constant agitation.

Considerations

Some silk fabrics should be dry-cleaned only and will be damaged with immersion in water.

Expert Insight

Fixing dye mistakes on silk requires a special chemical treatment to remove dye.

Bleeding

It's difficult to thoroughly wash out dye from delicate fabrics without damaging them, but fabrics treated with extra care during the dyeing process are more likely to bleed in the wash.

Warning

Most dyes are harmful if not handled properly. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.

References

• Paula Burch: About Fiber Reactive Dye
• Paula Burch: About Acid Dyes
• Wormspit: Dyeing Silk Yarn